ARMONK, N.Y. -- Groups pushing for more gun safety legislation in New York held a special meeting in Armonk on Wednesday, May 14.

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence along with the Million Mom March and Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America hosted "Kids and Gun Safety" at the North Castle Library.

The event featured state Assemblyman David Buchwald and U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey advocating for more gun-safety laws.

The gun safety groups have been advocating the passage of Nicholas' Bill, a law that would require the safe storage of weapons where children may be present. The law was named after a 12-year-old boy from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., who was shot and killed by a friend playing with his father's unlocked and loaded gun. This type of law is already on the books in Westchester.

Justin Wagner, vice president of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence said Nicholas' Law should be a top priority.

"This is a common sense piece of legislation," Wagner said. "It would ensure safe storage of all guns. Ninety-nine percent of people already do this. This is not an anti-2nd amendment issue."

Wagner said states like Mississippi, Texas and Utah already have this legislation.

"New York is behind Mississippi, Texas and Utah," Wagner said. "We have to fix this. Almost 3,000 children are killed each year by guns. Each one of those is a story."

Dr. Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist, said the health toll of guns needs to be looked at more and doctors should discuss guns with their patients.

"Gun violence is the leading cause of death among young people," Caplan said. "Yet lobby groups try to obscure the cost of gun violence. It has a bigger footprint than just dead bodies."

Parents said when they send their kids to someone's house, they should ask if the parent has a gun in the house and if it's secure.

"It's like asking someone how secure their pool is or warning them about a child's allergies," Gina Dashbach said. "You can always ask to have the child to come to your house."

Alex Dubroff said it is an important question for parents to ask other parents about.

"It can be awkward at first, but it's made me feel so much more comfortable," Dubroff said.

Comments (6)

Linda-I am so sorry for your family's loss. As the mother of a seven year old boy, I can only imagine the pain your family is going through and my heart breaks at the thought of it. I am part of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and please know that we will never stop fighting for common sense gun safety legislation in order to protect our children, our families and our communities. www.momsdemandaction.org. I'm in this for the long haul and so are countless others. We were a coalition of organizations (MOMS, NYAGV, Million Mom March) that put on this event. There are so many people who want to see change.. Too many kids are dying, too many families are suffering and it doesn't have to be this way. Thank you for speaking out at such a time of anguish and pain. All the best- Alex

Mike- if it was your child or grandchild that was killed by a gun that was in the hands of someone who didn't follow the basic gun safety rules believe me it wouldn't matter how many ,one is too much. My 10 year old grandson was just shot in the head by his Uncle who thought the gun was not loaded. This happened May 3 this year .We as parents and Grandparents are just looking to better educate and make owning a gun safer.

Ahhhh yes, the "Appeal to Emotion". The first Arrow every bleeding heart Lib pulls from the Quiver. Thank you for not even attempting to refute my statistics (I was wrong by BTW...it's around 300 children aged 0 - 14 / year killed by firearms as per the CDC - http://www.gunfacts.info/gun-control-myths/children-and-guns/). Thank you for, as you types always do, going straight to "one is too much" ("many", BTW. "Many" would be proper grammar...not "much").

At least you hit the nail on the head with "someone who didn't follow the basic gun safety rules". Guns are not the issue. People are. Irresponsible people. People like your relative who broke not just one, not two, but all three of the Cardinal Rules of firearm handling. (1) Always treat every firearm as if it is loaded; (2) never point your firearm at someone / thing you do not wish grave harm to; and (3) always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.

So, pray tell. Since your relative was such an abject sh*tbird and, essentially executed your Grandson, what exactly would your proposed law accomplish? Your situation, while tragic, was wholly preventable by the adult in the room. This is not a situation where a child found an unattended, loaded firearm that was not secured. Petitioning Legislators is something wholly different than "just looking to better educate" (Top 5 Law School BTW...so I doubt you're going to educate me in anything...let alone responsible firearm ownership); it is actively attempting to encumber a constitutional right. But, since you're all about education, please, educate me as to what your proposed law would have done to prevent your tragic situation.

While you and Alex (who was also in the article and is not exactly a casual observer voicing genuine support from without your group) "will never stop fighting for common sense gun safety legislation", I too will be fighting. Fighting, and winning mind you, legal victories to keep our rights secured from those who would strip us of them, "to purchase a little temporary Safety" as Franklin so aptly put it.

I'll be fair and state that the mean, rather than the collective IQ in that room appears to hover near room temperature.

"Gun violence is the leading cause of death among young people,"...

Really? Cite to source. What's that? You can't? Since you're factually, patently incorrect and you pulled that out of your a**? Thought so...

BTW, your 3,000 figure includes "children" up to the age of 20. "Children" whose activities such as engaging in drug sales and gang affiliations are the most proximate cause of their deaths. Maybe use the CDC's numbers (up to age 14 and approximately 672 or 762...can't recall offhand) rather than Mother Jones' twisted take on the # and you might be in the right State, let alone near the Ballpark.

Seriously. Educate yourselves. Especially before opening your mouth in public. It tends to lead to significantly less warranted derision and ridicule.